diff --git a/exp_reports/module/control.lua b/exp_reports/module/control.lua
index 17b7d102..0734f960 100644
--- a/exp_reports/module/control.lua
+++ b/exp_reports/module/control.lua
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ player who asked once it arrives, if they are still online.
 local clusterio_api = require("modules/clusterio/api")
 local ExpUtil = require("modules/exp_util")
 
-local format_player_name = ExpUtil.format_player_name_locale
+local format_player_name_locale = ExpUtil.format_player_name_locale
+local format_rich_text_color_locale = ExpUtil.format_rich_text_color_locale
 
 --- @class ExpReports
 local ExpReports = {
@@ -88,6 +89,17 @@ local function get_online_player(name)
     return nil
 end
 
+--- Names come from the controller, so the player may never have joined this server
+--- @param name string
+--- @return LocalisedString
+local function format_player_name(name)
+    local player = game.get_player(name)
+    if player then
+        return format_player_name_locale(player)
+    end
+    return format_rich_text_color_locale(name, ExpUtil.color.white)
+end
+
 --- The controller accepted a report
 --- @param payload { report: ExpReports.Report, reports: ExpReports.Report[] }
 function ExpReports.receive_created(payload)
diff --git a/exp_reports/test/module/env.lua b/exp_reports/test/module/env.lua
index fc3b6c62..62c4ca69 100644
--- a/exp_reports/test/module/env.lua
+++ b/exp_reports/test/module/env.lua
@@ -23,8 +23,12 @@ return Framework.suite(function(env)
     --- @cast env ExpReports.TestEnv
     env.extend_requires{
         ["modules/exp_util"] = {
-            format_player_name_locale = function(name) return name end,
-            color = { orange_red = "orange_red" },
+            format_player_name_locale = function(player)
+                assert(type(player) == "table", "format_player_name_locale takes a LuaPlayer")
+                return player.name
+            end,
+            format_rich_text_color_locale = function(message) return message end,
+            color = { orange_red = "orange_red", white = "white" },
         },
     }
     env.Reports = assert(loadfile(plugin_root .. "/module/control.lua"))() --- @type ExpReports